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Subchapter 20. Tunnel Safety Orders
Article 10. Rescue Apparatus

§8430. Rescue Crew and Breathing Apparatus.

(a) Rescue Teams

(1) On jobsites where 25 or more employees work underground at one time, the employer shall provide (or make arrangements in advance with locally available rescue services to provide) at least two 5-person rescue teams, one on the jobsite or within one-half hour travel time from the entry point, and the other within 2 hours travel time.

(2) On the jobsites where less than 25 employees work underground at one time, the employer shall provide (or make arrangements in advance with locally available rescue services to provide) at least one 5-person rescue team to be either on the jobsite or within one-half hour travel time from the entry point.

EXCEPTION: A rescue crew of at least five persons is not required for tunnels where less than 10 persons are underground at any one time (Labor Code Section 7958).

(3) Rescue team members shall be qualified in rescue procedures, the use and limitations of breathing apparatus, and the use of fire-fighting equipment. Qualifications shall be reviewed not less than annually.

(4) On jobsites where flammable or poisonous gases are encountered or anticipated in hazardous quantities, rescue team members shall practice donning and using self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus monthly. The equipment for tunnel rescue teams shall be prescribed in the requirements of 30 CFR, July 1, 1994, Part 49, Section 49.6, pages 302-303 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, which is hereby incorporated by reference except that the number of items prescribed for two teams shall be divided by two when only one rescue team is required.

(b) The employer shall ensure that rescue teams are familiar with conditions at the jobsite.

(c) No person who is physically unfit or who has not had the required training shall be allowed to use permissible self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus for rescue crew work.

(d)

(e) Where self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus is required by this section the following shall prevail:

(1) Training for rescue crew members shall be equivalent to the requirements of 30 CFR Part 49.8, except initial training shall consist of at least 24 hours, and the 8-hour refresher training shall be given at least every three months and shall include at least two hours in the wearing and use of self-contained breathing apparatus.

(2) Self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus shall be inspected, tested, maintained, repaired and used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

(f) A 1-hour self-rescue device approved by MSHA shall be provided and be immediately available for each person underground. Where a person works on or around mobile equipment, self-rescue devices may be placed in a readily accessible location on such equipment.

(g) In tunnels classified as Gassy or Extrahazardous, self-rescue devices shall be worn or carried by each person underground at all times.

(h) All self-rescue devices shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements. Particular attention shall be given to insure the established service life is not exceeded.

(i) Each person shall be trained in the proper inspection, use and limitations of the self-rescue device before being permitted to go underground and at least every three months thereafter. Records of this training shall be maintained on the job site in accordance with Section 3203(b) of the General Industry Safety Orders.